The exercise that can help you have a life full of meaning

Have you ever stopped to think about how to become fully happy ? We all struggle daily to be happy, but it is very common that we end up losing our compass in the midst of so much stress.

Your life should not be consumed in the classic routine of working hard to enjoy a few hours of the money you earn. In fact, this cycle can most likely end up deteriorating your physical and mental health for years to come.

Believe it or not, stepping out of this circle is the key move to finding an existence with a greater purpose. And this simple exercise that we share with you will help you achieve a more meaningful and happy life .

Estrategias para vivir una vida llena de sentido

Why is it dangerous to try to seek happiness?

Nowadays, there are numerous books and documentaries that promise you formulas to achieve happiness, but this is not always ideal. Some psychotherapists are warning their patients that trying to be happy at all costs can, paradoxically, make you feel more miserable.

Specialist Amy Morin explained to Forbes magazine that many people end up disappointed when they put all their efforts into pursuing what they think makes them happy.

Cómo alcanzar la verdadera felicidad

What is true happiness?

According to experts, there are two types of happiness:

  1. The first consists of the simple pleasures we get by satisfying small desires, like buying you those shoes that you liked so much.
  2. The second is the most important, and refers to achieving a general state of internal well-being that can transcend and provide a positive impact on the environment and the people around you.

Therefore, the proposal of Morin and his colleagues is not to focus on what you hope will make you happy, but to reflect on your habits and way of life to find what can make you unhappy. In this way you will avoid the negative so that the positive comes by itself, thus achieving the second type of happiness that will radically transform your way of seeing life.

Now it does make sense, doesn’t it?

Cómo alcanzar una vida llena de sentido y significado

Leaving the comfort zone to achieve happiness

If you have trouble identifying those little details that can stop your progress, it’s time to put into practice the exercise that psychologist Brian Little shares.

Little’s academic work has led him to investigate changes in people’s personalities when they step out of their “comfort zone.” Based on his conclusions, the expert explains that getting out of the routine allows you to find new personal projects out of the ordinary that help you develop in new areas.

Salir de la zona de confort ayuda a alcanzar la felicidad

An exercise to get out of your comfort zone

His exercise is based on that premise: take a few minutes to relax and write down all the personal projects you are undertaking as a guide. Many people write a list of up to 15 goals that they are trying to achieve, for example a better job position or losing weight

The next step is to read your list aloud and reflect point by point how important it is for you to undertake this project. Next, you must analyze the following with respect to each point:

  • How that idea can help you as a person.
  • What frustration or joy it takes to complete it.
  • Where it originates and if it fits your personality and values.
  • If you are willing to share your project with someone else.
  • What progress are you.
  • How confident are you in finishing it.

This brilliant exercise helps you identify which of those projects meet the necessary criteria to give your life more meaning.

Little emphasizes that complying with the indicated plans can lead you to expand your personality or improve your weaknesses. Therefore, it is these objectives that you have to prioritize, as they can help you achieve greater emotional stability .

Cómo encontrar una vida con más significado

conclusion

Connecting with your inner self and cultivating the positive will bring numerous changes in a matter of months. Therefore, it is always convenient to reflect on your actions and aspirations, to find a balance in everything that leads you to achieve a greater purpose.

The best thing about this simple exercise to have a life full of meaning is that its application helps us all. Brian Little sums this up with a simple explanation: “Whatever the context, projects push us to find new possibilities. And one of those possibilities is to have a happy life. “

Ejercicio para ayudarte a ser más feliz

References

  • Stillman, D. This Simple Exercise Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life. For Livestrong [Revised July 2018].
  • Jarrett, C. The Secret to Living a Meaningful Life. For BBC [Revised July 2018].